How Manchester United can buy Wayne Rooney for Arsenal!

I don’t think Arsenal fans would be very pleased with that.

The headline surely gives you the impression I need to be sedated. Even I think so and nothing within this post is anything but speculation. But let me indulge a theory and break it down for you in segments.

1. Arsenal are interested in signing Wayne Rooney.A lot of the big and reliable accounts on Twitter are saying that Arsenal are interested. I have no problems in believing that after hearing what Arsene Wenger has said. I did ask about the Rooney interest a while ago when it first emerged and although I was told there was interest, there were a few complications such as…

2. Can Arsenal afford Wayne Rooney?Ivan Gazidis says so, you would imagine a fee of £20/£25m and wages of £150k/wk and beyond. That’s doable although you always have to remember that this is Arsenal. Would there be any discontent about a new player coming in on such high wages? I don’t think anyone in the current squad is worth £150,000 a week so….No. So we’ve conquered the interest and the financial feasibility but maybe Arsenal won’t have to stretch that far. This links nicely into the fact that…

3. Manchester United want Cesc Fabregas for anything in the region of £40m+A lot of the North-West journalists are reporting that Fabregas is David Moyes’ top target. There have been a lot of conflicting reports about the Spaniard’s availability. In the same conversation as the Rooney interest, I was told that Cesc would give it a minimum of 12 months at Barcelona and see where he stands come the end of this season. But if we assume he is moving, Manchester United would have a problem as….

4. Arsenal have first refusal on Cesc Fabregas -

Any confirmation of Fabregas’ intentions to leave would alert Arsenal. Would Arsene be able to pass up the opportunity or does the world know he’s passed on Cesc Fabregas? It would depend on how much Arsenal want Rooney as maybe…

5. Arsenal waive first refusal on Cesc Fabregas to allow Manchester United’s PURSUIT of Fabregas in return for selling Wayne Rooney to Arsenal.

This is starting to get far-fetched now, but bear with me. Arsenal allow Manchester United to try and sign Cesc Fabregas in return for not blocking Wayne Rooney leaving for Arsenal. Now comes the clever bit as Arsenal will receive 50% of the transfer fee should Cesc leave Barcelona. So possibly…

6. Manchester United sign Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona for £40m+.Manchester United have signed Cesc Fabregas for, say, £45m from Barcelona. £22.5m of that transfer fee is payable to Arsenal as laid out in the contract, so…

7. In my crazy world, Manchester United have paid Arsenal the £20m+ to sign Wayne Rooney FOR ARSENAL while effectively signing Fabregas for £22.5mMadness, isn’t it? I suspect Arsenal fans would rather have Fabregas back (I’m still undecided as a fully functioning Rooney would benefit Arsenal), but I have reservations over Rooney’s fitness and lifestyle choices so I would probably just take Fabregas for the £20m.

As stated at the top, this is all the workings from my mind so I expect precisely 0% of this to happen. Otherwise, it’s quiet in Arsenal world (hence this long-winded piece) but you’d hope some things start falling into place this week.